Fare register



Nov. 11, 1930.

Filed Oct. 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l as T 33, a; J5 1:2 9 14 r 26 J 6/ 26' 6 w v Z 29 (J l" v If (3 l J 7 I +7 8 v 1 Q a #0 J6 f I E l G K; 9 I 1;):

1 25 LE 29 26/ I 4 4 I E j, 77:5

F I I INVENTOR a 1711221251 Mfi'yman BY #0 W ATTORNEYS:

Nov. 11, 1930. D. N. HYMAN 1,781,462

FARE REGISTER Filed Oct. 10. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Daniel MHyman ATTORNEY:

Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANIEL N. HYMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO I-IYMAN REGISTER COR- PORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEIV YORK FARE REGISTER Application filed October 10, 1929.

This invention relates to a coin register for use in connection with any machine or device where the patron inserts a coin and in so doing automatically registers the same.

Devices of this character as commonly constructed have been found to be defective in that if the patron inserts a coin far enough to operate the register or counter and then withdraws the coin, a coin is registered which is not received, or if he then again inserts the coin, it will be registered twice. This has been found to be a very serious defect in this class of machines and the main object of the present invention is to obviate this defect in a very simple, sure and efficient manner and without employing bulky or complicated mechanism.

A further object is to provide coin operated mechanism so constructed as to preclude the possibility of operating the register or ringing the indicating bell unless a coin be actually deposited, and the possibility of indicating or registering more than one coin by the insertion of a single coin is also obviated.

With the above and other ends in view, the invention consists in the matters hereinafterset forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fare box or coin holder and register illustrative of an embodiment of the present invention and showing the front, side or door of the box in open position to more clearly disclose the internal mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section substantially upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 8 is a detail of coin operated registry mechanism showing the same in inverted plan view;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to that shown in Figure 3, with the movable parts in a difierent position during operation;

- Fig. 5 is a vertical section substantially upon the line 55 of Figure 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to that of Figure 5 showing the parts in the position shown in Figure 4;

Serial No. 398,600.

'1' is a sectional detail substantially upon the line 77 of Figure 3 and 8 is a detail showing a modification of the construction.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mecha nism embodying the present invention, is embodied in a fare box or coin holder particularly designed for use upon public conveyances, such as street cars, motor buses and the lil: but it will be understood that such mechanism may form part of any suitable structure or device designed to receive coins inserted by the patrons and to register upon a suitable counter or other device the coins insert-ed, the fare box shown being merely illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, and as shown, comprising a rectangular box 1 provided with a door 2 forming one side thereof through which access may be had to the interior of the box or casing, said door being provided with the usual iock 3 and window 4 through which window, a series of vertically extending coin receiving tubes 5 may be viewed, these tubes being open at their upper ends to receive coins inserted through slots 6 (see Figures 3 to 6 inclusive) in the top wall of the casing, the lower ends of the tubes extending through the bottom the casing to discharge into suitable receptacies 7, each of which receptacles is provided with. the usual slide 8 by means of which the coins may be discharged, one at a time into the hand of the conductor or driver so that he may conveniently make change. The fare box or casing 1 is supported upon a suitable, fixed or stationary pedestal 9 by an open framew rlt comprising posts 10 interposed between the upper end of the pedestal and the bottom of the boX so that the conductor may insert his hand beneath the box to operate the slides 8 and receive the discharged coins. The pile or stack of coins collected in each tube may be seen through openings 11 in the sides of the tubes and these stacks of coins are supported in the several tubes upon a single slide 12 which is operated by a pull rod 13 extending through an opening in the door, to permit the stored coins to drop down the tubes onto the slides 8. The coin slots 6 are of different sizes to receive coins of different denominations, such as nickels, dimes and quarters, but one or more of these C0111 receiving units comprising a suitable recepthe type having a series of disks (not shown) provided with numbers ontheir peripheries and operated, progressively, one from another to display the total through an opening in the top of the casing 1 in the usual manner, said counter or adder being of the common barrel type, indicated as a whole at 1% and-provided with an operating crank 15. Said mechanism also includes means hereinafter described, for transmitting motion to operate the crank 15, by the insertionof a coin through the adjacent slot 6 and to sound a bell '16 each time a coin is registered by the counter 14. I

The mechanism for operating the register 14 and ringing the bell 16 comprises a carrying frame 17 which is pivctally supported by means of a shaft 18 mounted in bearings upon a bracket 19' secured to the under side of the top of the casing 1 adjacent each coin slot 6, and wound around said shaft 18 is a coiled spring 20 with one end attached to the frame 17 so that said spring will exert a constant force tending to swing said frame in a direction longitudinally of said slot 6 and bring a roller 21 mounted on said frame into the path of a coin 22inserted through said slot. A guard plate or foot 31 on the frame is arranged to extend across the path of the coin when said frame, is swung to the position shown in Fi ures 1 and 6 by the insertion of a coin which comes into edge contact with the roller 21, thereby swinging the frame 17 on its pivot 18 from the position shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 6 against the action of the spring 20, the coin being guided inwardly from the slot by a flange 23 extending downwardlv at one side of the slot and a lug 24 at the opposite side.

Mounted in bearings 25 and 26- on. the frame, is a rod or shaft 27 having-la limited turning movement in said bearings, and the upper end of said shaft is turned backward and downward to provide ahammer arm 28 carrying head or hammer 29 at its lower end adapted to strike the bell 16- when said rod is turned and held in a certain position by the insertion of a coin, which coin when so serted'as show-n in Figure 6, adapted to engage a later-al bend 30 adjacent the upper end of the rod or bend where it merges intoi the arm,--sa1d shaft or rod 2'? being normally held turned in its bearings by aspring 31 sleeved on the rod and with he bend 30 extending laterallyof the slot 6 across the path of a coinin'serted through the slot and heldin vertical positionbetween the flange 23 and insertion of a coin therefore turns the rod 27 on the frame against the action of spring 34 and swings the arm 28 to move its head 29 into the vertical plane of the bell 16 and hold it in that position just so long as the coin is within the slot 6.

The stop arm 31 on theframe 17 extends laterallytherefrom across thepath of the coin insertedthrough said slot so that the coin cannot drop immediately but will drop through into the upper open end of the tube 5 when it is inserted far enough so that its axis passes a line extending from the point of contact ofthe edge of the coin with the end of the slot 6, through the axis of the roller'21 which is in engagement with the opposite side of said coin, and is then released by the 'flIlgers of the party inserting it. Vheh the coin is so released, the spring 20 will act to turn the frame 17 on-its pivot while the; head 30 is guided along the face of the coin, swinging the stop 31 and roller 21 out from beneath the coin-which will then immediately drop.-

The end of the rod 27 opposite-that carry ingthe arm 28 is extended and bent laterally to provide an operating arm 32. Thearm 32, in turn, has an extreme end portion -33.-

This portion is so positioned that, when the frame 17 is swung towardsthe bell 16 upon its pivot 18 while the bend 30 is guided by a coin inserted inthe slot, said portion strikes the crank arm 38 of the counter l l to turn the counteria sufiicient distance to register one coin. This movement occurs simultaneously with the return of the roller 21 towards the top of the box 1,-uncler the influence of the spring 20, after the diameter-ofth'e coin has passed bet-ween the roller21 and the more remote end of the coin slot 6, when such return movement of the roll-er becomes possible. It has'alre'ady been-stated that the hammer 29' is brought into l-i'ne with the bell'lti when the bend 30'is guided bythecoin, and itmay now be seen that the soundinggof thebvell; and the operating of the register occur practically simultaneously.

If, however, the person inserting t 1 coin. does not release it'after having inserted it to the extent shown in Figure 6,bnt rather withdraws the-coin, the spring 3e will functi'on't-o bring th'e members 29 and 33 out of alignmentwith the bell 16' and register clan-1:38 respectively, inasmuch asthe normal tendency of the spring is to move the portion well as'th'e hammer out of operative 130 81131011 Therefore, when the coin is entire ly withdrawn, the spring 20' will move the frame 17 towards the top of tl e box 1 but without any operative effect. t is therefore impossible to operate the bell and registen as oftenhappens, by false movementconsis ing of partially insertinga coin andthen.

withdrawing it. In order to operate the device, the diameter of the coin must pass between the roller 21 and the more remote end of the coin slot 6 as already described, after which the coin cannot be withdrawn but on the otherhand is positively pulled into the box by the spring action of the roller 21' on the periphery of the coin.

An abutment plate 35 secured to the top of the box 1 and adjacent the bell 16 is engaged on one face or the other by the portion 33 or by the arm 32, according as whether the device is approaching the top of the box in operative or inoperative condition. The plate therefore, after having been engaged, guides the mechanism in its proper position and, in the case of an operative movement, resumes the guiding action of the coin after the latter has fallen from the slot 6.

After the hammer has struck the bell, it remains in contact therewith through the action of the member 35 on the member 32. On insertion of another coin, the first action of the coin is to swing the device by the roller 21 before the coin operatively engages the bend 30. In this interval, the members 32 and 33 are moved out of contact with the guide 35, whereupon the spring 34 is free to perform its normal function of turning the device to an inoperative position with respect to the parts 11 and 38. On subsequent engagement of the portion 30 by the coin, the device is tilted into alignment with the parts 16 and 38 as already described.

When the coin is inserted far enough to swing the frame and pass the roller 21, and is then released so that the shaft 27 may be rotated against the spring 341 to swing the arms 32 and 28 into a position to operate the crank 15 and ring the bell, the said arm 32 will passto the front of the plate 35, and engaging said plate during the upward swing, said arm will be swung slightly further laterally by such engagement, thus insuring the disengagement of the bend 30 from the coin and the release of the coin, preventing the clogging of the device.

The counter is so constructed as to be advanced by the turning of the crank 15 through the engagement of the crankmember 38 by the portion 33 of the arm 28. Moreover, the counter is not in position for another advance until the member 38 is fully released by a complete retraction of the member 33 therefrom, so that the counter cannot be operated by partial oscillations of the crank.

As shown in Figu es 3 to 7 inclusive, the crank arm 15 of the counter or register ll is swung in a direction opposite to thatin which it is swung by the engagement ofthe arm 32 therewith, by a slotted link 36 which is provided with a slot 37 to receive the crank 38 of the crank arm 15 and this link 36 is pivotally attached at 39 to the frame 17 so that when said frame is swung downwardly by the insertion of a coin, the latter part of this swinging movement will be effective to operate the counter crank arm and set the counter in position for operation by the arm 32 upon the succeeding upward swing of the frame, provided, as previously described, the coin has been released and has passed into the machine so that it should be registered, the slot 3? being of the proper length to engage at its end, the crank pin 38 at the proper time and turn the crank arm the proper distance.

In Figure 8, is shown a modified construction wherein the link 36 is dispensed with and a spring 40 is substituted therefor to exert a force tending to hold the crank arm 15 turned downwardly against a stop which limits such turning movement, so that immediately the arm 32 leaves the crank pin, said crank arm will be automatically turned by said spring into proper position to be again engaged and operated by the operating arm 32 when said arm is again swung upwardlyby the insertion of another coin.

To limit the rotation of the crank arm 32 in both directions, a stop plate 41 is secured to the top of the casing and extends clownward adjacent the path of movement of the crank pin, said plate being formed with pro jections 42 to be'engaged by said pin and limit the distance of turning movement of the crank arm in both directions.

While the registry operating mechanism has been shown as applied to a fare register, it is obvious that this mechanism may be applied to any other coin operated device, such as a vending machine or the like, and changes in the form or construction thereof to make the same applicable to such other devices, are contemplated.

Further, such changes in the particular construction and arrangement of mechanism as fall within the scope of the appended claims, are contemplated, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the construction shown and described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is:

l. The combination with means having a slot for receiving coins and a register for registering the coins received, of a member pivot ally supported adjacent said slot to be swung by the insertion of a coin through the slot, and means carried by said member for engaging and operating said register, said means being movable by the insertion of the coin laterally of the plane of swinging movement of said member, into position to operate said register.

2. The combination with a casing having a coin slot and a register for registering the coins passed through said slot into the casing, of a member pivotally supported adjacent said slot to be swung by the insertion of a coin in lUO said slot, and means carried bysaid member and including an arm for engaging said register tooperate the same during the swinging movement of said member, said means being arranged in the path of the coin to be engaged thereby and to be-moved by said coin to move said arm into Operative position, said means being adapted to be held in said position by the coin during the passage of the coin through said slot. 7 r

3. The combination with a casing having a coin' slotand a-registerfor registering the coins passed through said slot into the casing, of a member pivotally supported adjacent said slot to be swung by the insertion of a coin,

in said slot, and means carried by said member and including an arm for engaging said register to operate the same during the swinging movement of said member, said means being ter portion being displaceable bysaid coin to turn said arm toan' operative position rela tively to said register. V

V 4. The combination with a casing having a coin slot, and 'a register for registeringcoins inserted in said slot, of a frame pivoted adjacent said slot to be swungin one direction by theinsertion 'of a coin insaid slot, a spring tending to turn said frame in" the opposite direction, and a member rotatively mounted on said frame and having an arm adapted to operate'said register, said member being movable by the insertion of the coin to bring said arm into and hold the same in operative position during the passage of said coin'through said slot.

5: The combination with 'a casing having a coin slotand a register for registering coins inserted throughsaid slot, of means for operating said register by a coin inserted in said slot,saidmeans'in'cluding a member pivotedto'swing, an arm pivoted on :said mem ber toenga'ge and operate said'register duringthje swinging movement of said member, said arm being arranged tobe swung by said coin to operative position during a portion of the swinging movement of'said member, and arr-abutment to engage and hold said arm in operative position during the remainder of suchswingin'gm'ovement,

. 6. The combination-with 'a' casing having-acoin slot an'da register for registerin coins inserted through said slot, of means for opseating and register by the'inse'rtion of a coin,-

said means including a frame pivoted adjacent said slot to be swung in a vertical plane, by the engagement of an inserted coin therewith, a spring tending to swing said frame in a direct-ion opposite to that in which it is swung by the coin, an arm on said frame arranged to swing there-on into and out of position to engage and operate said register, said arm being arranged to be swung by the insertion of the coin-and to be held in the position to which it is swung by engagement with the coin, means for limiting the movement of the coin-pa'st-said frame and arm, and yielding means for turning said arm in a direction opposite to that in whichit is turned by said coin.

7. The combination with acasing having a coin slot, and a register for registering the number of coins inserted in said slot; of a frame pivotally attached at one end to a support adjacent said slot, a roller on said frame adjacent the pivot thereof to be engaged by a coin inserted in the slot and swing said frame, an arm mounted on said frame for movement laterally thereof into and out of position to engage and operate saidregister when said frame is swung, and yielding means for normally holding said arm in inoperative posi tion relatively to said register and in the path of a coin inserted through said slot so as to be engaged and moved by said coin as it passes said arm, said coin being operative to move said arm into and hold the same in operative position while the coin is in contact therewith.

8. The combination with a casing having a coin slot, a register for registering the number'of coins inserted through said slot and a bell to indicate each registration; of a member pivotally supported adjacent said slot for swinging movement and having means for engaging and Operating said register and bell, said member being positioned to be engaged and swung by a coin inserted in said slot and said means on said member being arranged in the path of said coin to be moved thereby into operative position and to be held in that position during the engagement of said coin therewith, and means'made operative by the withdrawal of a coin, to prevent the operation of said register and bell by the swinging of said pivoted member.

9. The combination with a casing having a coinslot and a register for registering the coins passed through said slot into the casing, of amember pivotally supported adjacent said slot to be swung by the insertion of a coin in said slot, and means carried by said member and including an arm for engaging said register to operate the same during the swinging movement of said member, said means being arranged in the'path of the com to be engaged thereby and to be moved by a said coin to move'said arm into operative position, a spring tending to turn said arm to inoperative*posltlonielatively to sa1dreg1s= ter, said member having a portion extending into the path of the coin to be initially engaged by a coin during insertion, whereby to swing said means and arm to a position where said spring is free to function, another spring tending to draw said means towards said register, said means having a portion extending into the path of a coin to be held thereby against the action 01 said second spring on further insertion of the coin, said latter portion being displaceable by said coin to turn said arm to an operative position relatively to said register and adapted to be guided by said coin in an operative movement of said means under the influence of said second spring.

In testimony whereof I afiix no signature.

DANIEL N. YMAN. 

